EVERLASTING QUESTION 115 



surely of rare occurrence, yet there have 

 been undoubted instances of the hunt 

 authorities trying to get the better of the 

 gamekeeper by questionable means, re- 

 moving a superfluous litter by request in 

 the day, and replacing it in the same 

 woods under cover of night. It is scarcely 

 necessary to point out that such methods 

 could only serve to defeat their own ends, 

 for the average gamekeeper would soon 

 come to know that he had been *had,' 

 and could easily ' get back his own ' with- 

 out any fear of detection. 



The right spirit in which hunt author- 

 ities should deal with the game-preservers 

 within their sphere of influence, might 

 thus be expressed — as seen by a would-be 

 dispassionate critic. 



We do not seek to deny that our sport 

 is largely dependent on your good will ; 

 we frankly admit that our foxes don't 

 make things any easier for you, and may at 

 times be a serious evil. We cannot deny 

 that the law allows you to refuse us your 

 coverts, nor could we be surprised — were 



